BEIJING, Oct. 28 (Xinhua) -- Chairman of the Taiwan-based Straits Exchange Foundation (SEF) Chiang Pin-kung said the mainland delegation's visit to the island would be of historic significance.

    The Chinese mainland's Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Straits (ARATS) president Chen Yunlin will lead a delegation to Taiwan from Nov. 3 to 7, the first meeting on the island between the two parties.

    The trip comes in the wake of the manhandling by a mob of Zhang Mingqing, dean of journalism at the mainland's Xiamen University and ARATS vice-president, in Taiwan last week.

    Chiang made the remark on Tuesday while attending a SEF meeting held in Taipei.

    The meeting will also be the second contact of the two organizations' current leaders.

    He said the meeting would focus on passenger and cargo transport across the Taiwan Strait and food safety issue.

    He expected the meeting to come to some agreements beneficial for both sides, he said.

    He also expressed hope that the mainland delegation could feel the hospitality of Taiwan people.




Taiwan industrial associations welcome ARATS chief's visit

    TAIPEI, Oct. 28 (Xinhua) -- Seven industrial and commercial associations in Taiwan on Tuesday voiced support and welcome for the visit of mainland-based Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Straits (ARATS) president Chen Yunlin.

    The associations said in a joint statement that although different parties on the island hold different opinions about Chen's visit, the associations, concerned about Taiwan's economic development, want to express support to the authority's invitation of Chen to have dialogue. Full story